Exerciser and massager

ABSTRACT

An exerciser and body massage device for massaging and kneading the torso or any appendage thereof by means of resilient rollers carried by a frame comprising opposed, rigid, U-shaped units with at least a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on the bow of each unit and having the ends of the legs telescoped and normally urged by spring means to apply a massaging pressure to the body when manipulated. The telescoped portions of the units provide parallel hand grips for manipulating the device.

United States Patent lnventor Earl 11. Landis 940 President Ave, Toms River, NJ. 08753 Appl No. 760,326 Filed Sept. 17, 1968 Patented June 8, 1971 EXERCISER AND MASSAGER 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 128/57 Int. Cl t A61h 15/00 Field of Search 128/24.3, 57, 58

References Cited UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 11/1925 Duncan 128/57 2,091,131 8/1937 Cone 128/57 2,219,138 10/1940 Morrison 128/57 2,223,263 11/1940 Michaelson 128/57 Primary ExaminerL. W. Trapp Altomey.lohnson & Kline EXERCISER AND MASSAGER I-Ieretofore, body massage devices embodying rollers have been used but they have presented problems in the uniform application of pressure to the body and in the ease and manner of manipulation of the device in use.

The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an exerciser and massage device which provides substantially uniform pressure in use, is of a simple yet sturdy construction, is easily manipulated and is capable of providing exercise to the user of the device.

This is accomplished by employing opposed, substantially rigid frames each comprising a U-shaped unit with the ends of the legs of the opposing U-shaped units telescoped and the bows of the U each rotatably carrying at least a pair of massaging rollers with the units being resiliently urged together and having controlled separation in use. The telescoped legs provide means for manipulating the device to move the rollers over the body.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the telescoped leg portions provide handgrips to permit manual operation of the device, thus affording exercise for the user as an incident to the massage.

Another feature of the invention resides in the rollers which are sponge rubber (natural or synthetic) and have a skin thereon and have longitudinally extending concave recesses in the surface thereof to effect a kneading action in conjunction with the massage.

The units can each be constructed of a unitary bent tubing or can be tubing sections rigidly joined together by connector devices.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device in normal position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I with the device in operative position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of an end of the device showing the telescoped legs of the units.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the anchor for the spring.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view, partly in section, showing a connector device as used in the device shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 15, the device of the present invention employs opposed, relatively rigid frames 10, 11 each comprising a U-shaped unit 12, 13 having the ends of the legs 12a, 12b and 13a and 13b in telescoped relation and having at least a pair of rollers 14 rotatably mounted on the bow of the units. Preferably, the bow of the units l2, 13 have angularly related sections 12c, 12d, 13c, 13d to receive the rollers and hold them in the proper position to engage a substantial surface of the torso T of the body when in position therearound as shown in FIG. 2. While two rollers are shown on each bow, in the device as illustrated in FIG. 2 it is to be understood that the number of rollers can be increased as required. For example, three rollers 114 are shown in FIG. 6 to obtain the desired surface engagement. The units are normally urged together to the position shown in FIG. I by resilient means carried by the telescoping legs. In the preferred form of the invention, this resilient means comprises a tension spring 15 disposed within the legs. While the spring can be mounted in many ways, in the illustrated form of the invention the spring has the ends 15a thereof anchored to cross pins 16 carried by the plugs 17 (FIG. 4) secured to each of the legs shown in FIG. 3. With this construction, as the units are spread as the device is disposed about the torso T of the body as shown in FIG. 2, they will stretch the tension spring and cause the rollers to be pressed with a substantially uniform pressure against the surface of the body. The telescoping leg sections are of a length as to provide sufficient overlap as will prevent canting of the units relative to one another during use thereof. To control the relative movement of the telescoped legs, a pin 18 is secured to one leg and extends into a slot 19 in the other leg to limit the relative movement of the legs in either direction.

The rollers 14 are preferably formed of sponge rubber (natural or synthetic) and are molded on or affixed to a sleeve 20 which rotatably supports the rollers on the unit sections 12c, 12d, 13c, 13d. The surface of the roller has a skin 21 formed during the molding thereof and is provided with a plurality of elongate concave recesses 22 spaced therearound to effect a kneading action as well as a massaging action as the rollers rotate when the device is moved over the body. In this connection the parallel telescoped ends of the units provide a convenient means for manipulating the device.

While the device may be manipulated by mechanical or by many other means, in the present preferred form of the invention the device is manually moved over the body with the telescoped legs 12a, 13a, 12b and 13b forming parallel handles which can be gripped by the hands H as shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 2. This action will provide the user with a means for readily manually manipulating the device and for exercising as an incident to the operation of the massage device.

The units 12 and 13 can be formed in various ways. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, they are formed as a unitary structure from bent tubing. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the units are assembled from sections 112 of tubing rigidly joined together by connector devices 1 13 which, as shown in FIG. 7, have plugs 113a on the ends which are forced fit into the ends of the tubing.

While the present invention has been illustrated as a device for encircling the torso of the body, it can be made to smaller dimensions so as to embrace an appendage to the body, such as a leg or arm, and with the same mode of operation provide the required massage and kneading action thereto.

Variations and modifications maybe made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Iclaim:

1. An exerciser and body massage device including a frame comprising a pair of opposed, rigid, U-shaped units having the ends of the legs of one U slidably telescoped with the ends of the legs of the other U, said telescoped legs being of a length to receive a hand and provide manipulating handgrips for the device with the bow of each unit having at least a pair of angularly disposed straight sections forming an internal obtuse angle, at least a pair of resilient cylindrical rollers mounted for rotation on said angularly disposed straight sections of each of the bows of the U, and resilient means normally yieldingly urging the bows carrying the rollers toward one another.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means comprises spring means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means is disposed within each of the telescoped legs of the U.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped leg portions are of a length to prevent canting of one unit with respect to the other.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein stop means is provided between the telescoped portions to control the relative sliding movement thereof.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped portions of the legs provide means for manipulating said device.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped portions of the legs provide parallel handgrips for facilitating manual manipulation of the device.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the rollers are elongate bodies of sponge rubber having a skin thereon and having elongate concave grooves in the body-engaging surface at spaced intervals therearound to provide a required kneading and massage action. 

1. An exerciser and body massage device including a frame comprising a pair of opposed, rigid, U-shaped units having the ends of the legs of one U slidably telescoped with the ends of the legs of the other U, said telescoped legs being of a length to receive a hand and provide manipulating handgrips for the device with the bow of each unit having at least a pair of angularly disposed straight sections forming an internal obtuse angle, at least a pair of resilient cylindrical rollers mounted for rotation on said angularly disposed straight sections of each of the bows of the U, and resilient means normally yieldingly urging the bows carrying the rollers toward one another.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means comprises spring means.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient means is disposed within each of the telescoped legs of the U.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped leg portions are of a length to prevent canting of one unit with respect to the other.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein stop means is provided between the telescoped portions to control the relative sliding movement thereof.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped portions of the legs provide means for manipulating said device.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the telescoped portions of the legs provide parallel handgrips for facilitating manual manipulation of the device.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the rollers are elongate bodies of sponge rubber having a skin thereon and having elongate concave grooves in the body-engaging surface at spaced intervals therearound to provide a required kneading and massage action. 